Meet the HippFest Team

HippFest relies on the talent, specialisms and enthusiasm of a small team of dedicated HippFest freelancers and Council employees. This includes the Box Office team, Venues team, Catering teams and the Technical teams, and below you can read more about the HippFest core team.

Alison Strauss

Alison Strauss (she/her) is the Founding Director of HippFest and works as Falkirk Council’s Arts Development Officer (Film and Media), programming the Hippodrome year-round. Alison is the ‘face of the Festival’ and leads on the artistic programme, commissioning, funding, research and development, and touring.  Alison studied English at York University and has an MA in ‘Film Archiving and British Film’ from the University of East Anglia.  She worked at the British Film Institute National Archive for seven years, identifying and supplying material for UK cinemas, researchers, academics, donors and rights holders, and went on to work in Arts Development for four successive local authorities in England and Scotland, specialising in Creative Industries, Voluntary Arts and Film.  When she’s not watching films at the Hippodrome, she’s likely to be up a mountain, walking the dogs, or planning what to make for dinner.

The silent film star Alison would cast as herself is Nell Shipman – “an independent and spirited multi-tasker who loved the great outdoors”.

Nell Cardozo

Nell Cardozo (She/They) is HippFest's Development and Engagement Officer, working to build and manage relationships with stakeholders, funders, and community partners. In her role she is interested in encouraging community voices into the Festival programming, and connecting with the diverse groups that make a home in Bo'ness. She is responsible for the engagement programme and supports the Director with fundraising for the Festival. Nell is a freelance curator, writer, producer, and creative project manager based in Glasgow. Currently, she is also the Curatorial Director at 16NSt, an itinerant gallery and curatorial collective dedicated to the enjoyment of experimental contemporary art. Nell has an MA in English Literature and an MSc in Museum Studies from Glasgow University, where her thesis focused on investigating accessibility in online databases. Her current hobbies are researching riverside cities, and updating both her letterboxd diary and her map of Glasgow's best falafel places. 

The silent film star Nell would cast to play herself is Lois Moran –  “As an English Literature graduate I couldn’t pass over the opportunity for this F. Scott Fitzgerald crossover!”

Christina Webber 

Christina Webber (she/her) is HippFest’s Digital Content Manager, working to develop the Festival’s year-round digital outputs, social media channels, and live-streamed programme. For Christina, digital spaces offer an opportunity to broaden the audiences for silent film, increase Festival accessibility, and promote international discovery and collaboration. Christina works with a variety of creative clients in a Digital Communications capacity and when not behind a screen, is an internationally exhibited Visual Artist and Director of AGITATE: a grassroots hub for photography based in Edinburgh’s West End. She is passionate that the creative industries should be more reflective of the breadth of people making work and about providing accessible and affordable opportunities wherever possible. She has a First Class BA (Hons) in Photography & Film, from Edinburgh Napier University. Christina is guilty of often knowing people by their social media handles and not until months later, by their full names.

The silent film star Christina would cast to play herself is Ernest Torrence –  “Tall with a strong chin, and I named my horse on Zelda after him after watching Steamboat Bill Jr!"

Hannah Bradley Croall 

Hannah Bradley Croall (she/her) is HippFest’s PR Manager and works with the media in promoting the festival. She joined the team in 2020, but due to the pandemic didn’t have the opportunity to attend the Hippodrome in person until 2022! Hannah came to PR after watching too much ‘Mad Men’ at university and now works as a freelance publicist promoting the arts and cultural events around Scotland, opting for the red carpet over Madison Avenue.

The silent film star Hannah would cast to play herself is Asta Nielsen - "known for playing strong-willed women with an understated performance style.  That and the deep voice!"

Abbie Dobson

Abbie Dobson (she/her) is HippFest’s Marketing Manager, and works at Premier Scotland. Abbie looks after all the marketing for the Festival, from brochures to bunting, and is always trying to come up with new and creative ways to reach new audiences. She developed and nurtured her love of film while working for Filmhouse and Edinburgh International Film Festival, and currently works with many festivals and events across Scotland’s cultural sector. She studied Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, where she specialised in photography and film, creating a short film of her own for her degree show. You’ll often find Abbie in her favourite seat in the Hippodrome (in the balcony, house left) thinking deeply about tote bags, beanies, badges, and popcorn.

The silent film star Abbie would cast to play herself is Lillian Gish - “A likeness has been pointed out before - I can’t see it myself, but I’ll take it!”